Bathing suit



Apri 1, 1942-. v. BOWMAN 2,219,222

BATHING- SUIT Filed Jan. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l V/REl/N/H Emu/Maw INVENTCR V WM/J 7M? ATTORNEY April 1942 v. BOWMAN 2,279,222

BATHING SUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan 28, 1939 INVENTOR WMMM Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATHING SUIT Virginia Bowman, New York, N. Y. Application January 28, 1929, Serial No. 253,367

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to garments for men or women and more particularly to swim ming or bathing suits.

A bathing suit including a pair of relatively short trunks or pants forming a nether garment together with a top piece or body garment which is a separate unit, and which when worn, over lies or overhangs thetrunk or nether garment, has long been knownin the bathing suit art. Later the upper edge of the nethergarment was integrated with the inner surface of thewaist portion of the body garment to form a one-piece bathing suit having a skirt overlying thenether garment. Since the material comprising the upper portion of the nethergarment was unseen, it merely added extra weight-and cost to the entire garment. t A

For the purpose of securing a skirt effect, I have previously made bathing suits in which-the nether garment was extremely reduced in height so that the upper edge of the nether garment was integrated with the inner surface of the body garment very close to the lower edge of said body'garment. While this resulted in a considerable saving of material and in the. weight of the entire garment, the same was unsatisfactory in that while it aimed to give a skirt effect, what resulted was the effect of a narrow rufile on acne-piece bathing suit. I have also previously made bathing suits whichwere of the so-called one-piece construction in which the entire garment was longer than a normal one-piece suit of the same size by an amount twice thelength of the skirt which it was desiredwould appear in the finished product. This skirt was formed by making a horizontally extending circumferential pleat. This last mentioned construction was equally unsatisfactory in that the finished garment appeared to be only a one-piecesuit with a narrow ruflle, the desired skirt effect being entirely lost. These garments have been improved by the present invention so that a true skirt effeet is attained. 1

. Among the objects of the present. invention is the provision of a novel bathing suit structure which with a minimum of weight and material, produces a true skirt efiect.

Another object herein is the provision of bathing suit structure essentially of the one-piece type and in which a proper and highly desirable fit is provided and in which proper fullness for comfort is obtained without losing'the' desirable slenderizing effects of a rather snugly fitted garment.

Another object herein is the provision of a bath- 25 the several views and in which: I

ing suit structure in which considerable economies are accomplished by reason of the -reduction in the total. amount of material used and by reason of a reduction in the number of operations. Furthermore, these operations are of such a nature that they are more easily performed; A furtherobject herein is a provision of bath ing suit structure in which the'desired objects may be accomplished in all types of bathing suit construction, as for example, suits manufactured of smooth surfaced Lastex fabrics, Matelasse, orof woven or knitted fabrics having the necessary elastic qualities. The present improved construction is readily adapted to suits which are either fully lined, partially lined or unlined. The

tageswill morefully appear in the progress of this disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings forming a material part of this disclosure, similar reference characters designate corresponding. parts :throughout Fi 1 is a front view in perspectiveshowing a first embodiment of the inventionfas worn.

Fig. 2 is a rear view in perspective ofthe embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

'0 Fig. 3 is a side view in perspective of the first embodiment as seen from the wearersleft.

Fig. 4 is a schematic or diagrammatic sectional view as seen from the planev 4 --4-on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary centralyertical sec- 5 tional view as seenfrom the plane 5 onFig Z.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view as seen from the plane 65 on Fig. 3.

Fig. .7 is a developed plan view showing the two rear panels of the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a developed plan view showing .the

front panel of the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a developed plan view of the crotch gusset of thefirst embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a developed plan-view of the front crotch element of the first embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary viewtakensimilarly to Fig. 1 and in which the lower portion of the front panel has been pulled away tofurther expose the parts for the purpose of clarity.

Fig. 12 is a frontview in perspective showing a second embodiment of the inventionfas worn.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary central vertical sectionalview taken similarly to Fig. 5 but showing instead the second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. .14 is a fragmentary view taken similarly to Fig. 12 and in which the lower portion of the front panel has been pulled away to more clearly display the parts and the integration thereof.

Fig. 15 is a developed plan view of the front panel of the second embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a developed plan view of the front pantieor trunk of the second embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a front view in perspective showing a third embodiment of the invention as worn.

Fig. 18 is a developed plan view of the front panel and pantie or trunk of the third embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a developed plan'view of the pocket? insert as utilized in the third embodiment. a

Fig. 20 is a developedv plan view showing the two rear and side panels of the third embodi-f 7 together (F) Theinverted V-indentations 62 and 63 are Merrow stitched to the rear crotch ment. o Right and left hand designations'herein are intended as corresponding to the right and left ,20 (G) The lower portion of the front panel is hands of awearer in the garment.

Turning, nowtq the'iirst-embodiment of the inventionillustrated'in Figs.- 1 to 11 inclusive, the bathing suit generally indicated by numeral comprises a frontpanel 3|, having'bust pockets 32 and 33'; shoulder straps-35 and 36, back panels 3'l and 38,ba ckties;3 9-,and' and a crotchg'usset 4l. 4

since the construction of the suit 30 above the waist may be-of any desired construction, that shown is merely by way of example and will-not be described in further detail. It will be obvious to; those skilled in the. art to which the present invention pertains that different and from the dash-double-dot fold or hem line (Fig. 8) 'to' the lower horizontal edge 46 of the front'panel: The "lower-horizontal edge 46 of the front panel 3l at the center thereof is provided with a semi-circular or are shaped pocket forming extension or tab 41 having a substantially convex edge 55. While the extension 4'Iis shown as integral with the lower portion 34, it may-of course be a'separate piece attached to the lower portion 34 since such attachment is not'normally visible in the finished garment as worn. r The front crotch element 48 (see Fig. l0) at-the lower edge thereof is provided with an, inverted v-shaped notch 49, and

the lower edge includes two downwardly con verging edges 50 and 5|. The upper horizontally disposededge 52, at the center thereof is provided with a semi -circular or are shaped pocket forming extension or tab 53 having a substantially-convex edge 54.-

The two rear panels -31 and are shaped'in accordance with standard tailoring practice in the bathing suit art andthey include upper backline edges 56 and 51, left hand sideedge 58 and. right hand side edge 59; lower rear crotch portions .60 and 6]; gusset conforming inverted V- indentationsfl-fil and .63, and rear central edges 64 and65g; The crotch'gusset' 4! includes rear crotch portion engaging edges 66 and 61, inner crotch forming edges 68 and69 and afront crotch en- "In order that the arrangement and integration of the parts may be fully understood, one method of assembly which, it has beenf und'requires' a of stitching operations will now be 75 5 viously integrated bust pockets is Merrow stitched to the upper edges of the front panel 3| along the lines H and 12. (C) The upper horizontal edge 52 and the convex edge 54 of the front crotch element 48 is stitched to the 10 lower horizontal edge 46 and the convex edge of the front panel 3| bysa single row of Merrow stitches. (D) The front crotch enw...of. the V-shaped notch 49 in the lower portion 1 "of the front crotch element 48. (E) The rear central edges 64 and 65 are Merrow stitched portion engaging edges 66 and 61 respectively.

folded inwardly or rearwardly as viewed in Fig. 8jalongthe fold or hem line 45 through one hundred and eighty degrees. folding operation-places the crotch-pocket generally indi- 5 cated by numeral 13, upwardly and rearwardly 0 cated bynumeral -14. These" seams'in effect join the edges '43 and-"44' to the edges 58 and 59 respectively. (I) "All "of thepreviously Merrow stitched seamsare next cover stitched for A the purpose of preventing splitting. (J) Finally, 35 a single row of cover stitches is put into the garment along a pathindicated by the arrows in Fig. 4 Previous to this last mentioned s'titching operation, the lower raw edges of the lower rear c'rotch ac irticinsi and G l th'e inner crotch I 40- forming edges 68 and 69 andthedownwardly converging edges 5!)and 5| have been turned inwardlyin order to form a hem. f Thestitches 84 formed and indicated by the arrows'l5 and I6 servetofhem-the crotch portion of thegsuit 30 whilethestitches 18 indicated by the arrows 11 arefrnade along the lowerportion fl of the front panel 3], alongthe dash triple dot lines 19f (Fig; 8), serving to maintain the hem produced by the fold along thefline.4 5; Therow of stitches"!!! 50 is '-posit ioned ,so,as, not; to; engage the edges 46 and 52 whichhave been previouslyponnected by therow of Merrow stitches set forth in operation i ei r en e th j i e hb k When the bathing suit 30 is worn, owing to the elasticity of the fabric of which it ismade, the same conforms in all resp,ects,zexcept one, to the contour of the body, 1 The oneportion of the suitwhich does not conform to the contour of 60 the body. is the front: skirtfgepjerally indicated by numeral 80. Thisfl is so: because thejinverted crotch pocket 13 allows an excess .of material so that the frontskirt 8 ll.isv only loosely connected to the bathin g suitfifl at the outer sidee dges,

thereof;- This construction and. position of the skirt is clearly' indicated .in Figs. .4', 5 and 6. In Fig. 6, itmay beseen that. while the. crotch gusset 4 l and therlowerportion (exclusiveof the extension 53) .of the front crotch element '48 7 engage the body'surface, the. extension 53 together with. theextensionfl'! permitthe skirt 80 to., hang loosely and spaced fromQthejbody; The tendency of the skirt 8!) to hang forwardly andaway from the body contour betweenthe uppermost portions of the thighs is further C above. The row of stitches I8, doeslnot any-i caused by the tension existingl'across the skirt 80 by reason of the attachment of its outer edges at the lowest portions of the side seams, at 83, I83.

As indicated by the dash-dot line it may be seen'that the'base of the trunk of the body curves inwardly a substantial amount and if the central portion of the skirt 85 were attached to the front ofthe crotch portion from one side of thebathing suit to the other, the skirt would be forced to follow the contour of the crotch portion at that point and'would go in between the legs as indicated by the dotted lines 82 in Fig. 4 and the dot-dash lines 83 in Fig. 5. The skirt then caused to take a concave configuration along its plane, buckles and ruiiies, and will project outwardly at an angle from the vertical as indicated in Fig. 5. This effect is very undesirable from both practical and aesthetic standpoints and entirely defeats the purpose of having a front skirt on a suit altogether. By means of applicants improved construction, the skirt '80 is only loosely connected to the body of the garment along a predetermined area, that is to say, the upper portion of the front crotch, and is thereby permitted to hang straight and in a planar condition vertically disposed with relation to the adjacent suit portions. As may be seen in Figs. 8 and 10, the only additional material required to secure this desirable effect is in the extensions 41 and 53.

Another saving of material in the present construction is provided for in the utilization of the converging edges 50 and which hem' to nothing in meeting the upper edge 52. Since the folded portion of the hem at the lower edge of the lower front portion 34, that is to say, the fold of material formed between the fold line 45 and the row of stitches 18 or the line I9 serves as a pantie gusset to cover the space indicated at numeral 82 on Fig. 11. The upper edge 52 of the front crotch element 48 thus is supported from above by its attachment to the edge 46 and is not directly supported at the side edges. This construction while assuring adequate coverage of the body, and no apparent difference of appearance of the suit as normally worn, permits a much simpler sewing operation in connecting the edges 43 and 58, and M and 59 respectively since when the front crotch element extends to the side seams, considerable bulkiness occurs which not only impairs the appearance of the garment at the points 83 and I83 but also makes the sewing operation through so many thicknesses of cloth diflicult and time-consuming.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 12 to 16 inclusive, the bathing suit indicated generally by numeral 30' is generally of similar construction to the one described as the first embodiment.

The principal differences occur in the utilization of a separate lining generally indicated by numeral 90, and in a change in the configuration of the pantie pocket forming extensions 41 and 53.

Since back panels 31 and 38 and a crotch gusset 4| may be used without any change in connection with the second embodiment, these parts have not been specifically illustrated nor will the description thereof be repeated. The various lining pieces are substantially of the same configuration as the panel or gusset piece with which they are adapted to be connected. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the front lining 8| in Fi 3,"

pariel llbis attached at its edges to; the upper edges" and 12" and on'its sides mu e edges 43-"and l4 of 'the front panel 3| and 34 while the lowermost edge of the lining 9| is attached to the'converging loweredges 50 an'd 5l' of the front pantie or trunk 48'. The full 'length of the-lining 9| is such that it isadapted to lie smooth on the inner surface of the front panel 3|-' and the front pantie 48' after-the'convex edges 54' and '55 have been connectedtogether and the lower portion 34' of the front panel has been =folded inwardly {andupwardly, or rearwardlygthrough one 'hundredand eighty degrees along the dash -double-dot lines 45'. The upper edge of the pantie pocket 13, that is to say the two abutting edges 55 and 54 are stitched to the outer surfaceof the lining 9| by'means of a row of" stitches 92. This connection of'the upper edge of the pocket 13 to the lining 3| by meansof stitches 92 gives further support to the forward upper front' edge of the pantie -48 and is desirable where the bathings'uit 36' is of a lined construction. Note, however, that the lining is not connected adjacent the stitches 92 to the front panel lower portion--34 so that any. downward pull on the stitches &2, that is to say, ontheupper edge ofthe-pantiepocket 73 is taken up by the vertical elasticity of the lining 92 which does not affect the normal planar vertical condition of-the skirt Bil between the upper portion of the legs. I

The lining portion 93 which lines the crotch gusset 4| may be, if desired, ofwater-proof material while the lining portion tie-which lines the rear panels of the suit 30' is seen in Fig.13.

As seen in Fig. 16, the vertically disposed out wardly diverging side edges 94 and extend sufiiciently in a vertical direction so that they may be engaged by the stitches which connect the front and rear halves of the garment. This construction is seen in the lower portion of Fig. 14 and may be contrasted with the structure disclosed in Fig. 11.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the configuration of the lower edge of the front pantie 48' may be interchanged with the configuration of the front pantie 48. The configuration of the lower edge of pantie 48 saves material and avoids bulkiness at the base of the garment side seams.

Turning now to the third embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 17 to 20 inclusive, the bathing suit generally indicated by numeral 30" is of a one-quarter skirt construction. The front panel 3|" is much narrower in width than the other embodiments and the lower portion 34" of the front panel is integral with the front pantie portion 48".

The back panels 31" and 38" are cut sufiicientlyv wide so that the side edges 58" and 59" are joined to the edges 43" and 44" along lines substantially on the front of the garment 30".

The lower portion 34 of the front panel where it joins the pantie portion 48" is provided with a horizontally directed slit forming edges 46" and 52" into which is suitably stitched the gusset 41" which when folded inwardly along the dash-triple-dot lines I00 forms a pantie pocket 13". v

The-V-shaped notch of the pantie portion 48" is connected to a crotch gusset like gusset 4| which is in turn connected to the lower edges of the rear inverted V indentations 62" and 63".

Before the front and back panels of the suit 30 are connected along the seams IN and I02,

the lower portion 34" 'of the front panel 3 I is folded inwardly about the dash-double-dot line 45", which moves the pantie pocket into the position shown in Fig. 17.

The construction of the third embodiment pre and the front panel upper portion provide adequate fullness at these points. The actual additional fabric required to form the smooth hang! ing skirt 80" is'obtained from only the gusset 41" and the lower front pantie portion 48" which lies below the edge 52. a

In each of the embodiments described, the novel pantie pockets I3, 13', and 13" with only a small amount of material provide adequate and outwardly invisible fullness so that the skirts 80, 80, and 80" hang straight and smooth and give the true effect' of a two-piece" bathing suit although the suits 30, 30', and 30" require only slightly more material and labor than real onepiece construction. I I

The foregoing description has been made rather detailed for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior'art.

I claim:

1. A bathing suit comprising: a rear panel the upper portion of which forms the back of the suit, and the lower portion of which forms the rear part of the crotch of the suit; afront panel the upper portion of which forms thefront of the suit and the lower portion of which covers the lower front portion of the human figure when worn; said front panel having an inturned lower edge folded upon itself and secured thereto in an upwardly folded position, the upper portion of said edge terminating in a. downwardly extending first convex tab; a front crotch element connected at the lower central portion thereof to the lower central portion of said rear panel, said crotch element having an upper edge including a second convex tab, said first and second tabs being interconnected at the edges thereof forming a pantie gusset positioned rearwardly of the lower portion of the front panel.

2. A bathing suit comprising: a rear panel the upper portion of which forms the back of the suit, and the lower portion of which forms the rear part of the crotch of the suit; a front panel the upper portion of which forms the front of the suitand lower portion of which covers the lower front portion of the human figure when worn; said front panel having an inturned lower edge folded upon itself and secured thereto in an upwardly folded position, the upper portion of said edge terminating in a downwardly extending first convex tab, a front crotch element connected at the lower central portion thereof to-the lower portion of the said rear panel, said crotch element including a central convex tab and lateral tabs, said first and second convex tabs being interconnected along their convex edges; the lateral tabs of the crotch element being connected to said lower edge at the sides of the first convex tab.

. VIRGINIA BOWMAN. 

